George Russell's teammate for 2025?

George Russell's teammate for 2025?

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Discussion

Muzzer79

10,945 posts

193 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Zammy said:
Hustle_ said:
MiniMan64 said:
I can’t believe people are seriously suggesting Vettel or Rosberg would be an option for coming back…
Those aren’t serious people.
Rosberg..No chance! Vettel on the other hand is making sounds about a return and I think his route back in is with Audi.
Much as I like Vettel, I can't see why Audi would want him either.

He spent his last year at Ferrari struggling to match and bumping into LeClerc, then spent two years at Aston Martin slightly out-performing Lance Stroll (who has since been blown away by Alonso)

At 36, he's not old in F1 terms nowadays, but unless they bring blown diffusers back (in which case I'd sign him in a heartbeat) then he's best off in WEC I think.

honda_exige

6,511 posts

212 months

Friday 12th April
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Jasandjules said:
Kart16 said:
There is mountain of talent between them. Sainz is a very good driver, but Verstappen is at Senna-like level.
My apologies I forgot you are also on the do not engage as waste of time to do so list.

Worries me you don't even realise they were team mates and one was doing better than the other.. Which is why the Verstappens took steps to remove Sainz.... It is well documentated.
Oh please. You comments are as empty as your previous hints that Perez' car is constantly kyboshed compared to Max'.

They both came into TR at the same time but Sainz had an ocean of extra experience compared. Sainz should've wiped the floor with Max - who was legally a Child at the time - but didn't.

During their time together, 2015 and a bit of 2016 Max out qualified Sainz even with the 3 or so car failures Max had during Qually compared. Points wise Max was on a different planet, although yes we do have to remember Sainz got a bit unlucky for DNFs, however Max had 2x 4th place finishes, in one Sainz finished 7th a mile off and the other Sainz was running 5th yes but half a lap behind and at risk of losing 2 more spots before DNF'ing.

Muzzer79

10,945 posts

193 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
honda_exige said:
Oh please. You comments are as empty as your previous hints that Perez' car is constantly kyboshed compared to Max'.

They both came into TR at the same time but Sainz had an ocean of extra experience compared. Sainz should've wiped the floor with Max - who was legally a Child at the time - but didn't.

During their time together, 2015 and a bit of 2016 Max out qualified Sainz even with the 3 or so car failures Max had during Qually compared. Points wise Max was on a different planet, although yes we do have to remember Sainz got a bit unlucky for DNFs, however Max had 2x 4th place finishes, in one Sainz finished 7th a mile off and the other Sainz was running 5th yes but half a lap behind and at risk of losing 2 more spots before DNF'ing.
If you're referring to the US GP in 2015; I can't take you seriously when you claim that one driver finishing 8 seconds behind the other is "a mile off"

Sandpit Steve

11,274 posts

80 months

Friday 12th April
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PRO5T said:
The same reporter who broke Hamilton to Ferrari is now saying Saintz is going to Mercedes.
Interesting.

Sainz to Mercedes makes sense, but I did think the team was going to wait out the Red Bull civil war for a few months, and see if the opportunity to sign Max came up.

With Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Aston Martin all having two drivers signed, Max has nowhere to go if it goes pear-shaped at Red Bull. I can’t see him wanting to do a development year or two at Audi.

Zetec-S

6,249 posts

99 months

Friday 12th April
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PRO5T said:
Saints has matured into a very, very good driver. The complete opposite of the wunderkinds who blaze a trail through the lower formula then fizzle out once they reach F1.

If he finds himself in a lucky position (as for instance Button did in '09) he will certainly win a WDC. He's never going to beat a Max or a Lewis but if for instance, he was at Mercedes and they had a title challenger on their hands next year (fantasy I know!) among Red Bull and Ferrari I think he could win it. I'd put my money on him above Russel in a mixed up year. He'd need the luck and his skillset would take care of everything else.

Red Bull should really sign him though, he's not on Max's level but by god he'd hoover up loads of points and a good few wins when Max had an off day. And if by some miracle the other teams caught up he'd be much more use than Perez at taking points off everyone else.
I'd agree with most of this. Mercedes would be mad not to sign him. At worst, even with a dog of a car I think he would be consistently scoring points and claiming a few podiums. And if (it's a big if) they get it right with the next set of regulation changes, I think he has the maturity and consistency to challenge for the WDC.

HTP99

23,241 posts

146 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Zetec-S said:
PRO5T said:
Saints has matured into a very, very good driver. The complete opposite of the wunderkinds who blaze a trail through the lower formula then fizzle out once they reach F1.

If he finds himself in a lucky position (as for instance Button did in '09) he will certainly win a WDC. He's never going to beat a Max or a Lewis but if for instance, he was at Mercedes and they had a title challenger on their hands next year (fantasy I know!) among Red Bull and Ferrari I think he could win it. I'd put my money on him above Russel in a mixed up year. He'd need the luck and his skillset would take care of everything else.

Red Bull should really sign him though, he's not on Max's level but by god he'd hoover up loads of points and a good few wins when Max had an off day. And if by some miracle the other teams caught up he'd be much more use than Perez at taking points off everyone else.
I'd agree with most of this. Mercedes would be mad not to sign him. At worst, even with a dog of a car I think he would be consistently scoring points and claiming a few podiums. And if (it's a big if) they get it right with the next set of regulation changes, I think he has the maturity and consistency to challenge for the WDC.
Better bet than Russell IMHO.

honda_exige

6,511 posts

212 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Muzzer79 said:
honda_exige said:
Oh please. You comments are as empty as your previous hints that Perez' car is constantly kyboshed compared to Max'.

They both came into TR at the same time but Sainz had an ocean of extra experience compared. Sainz should've wiped the floor with Max - who was legally a Child at the time - but didn't.

During their time together, 2015 and a bit of 2016 Max out qualified Sainz even with the 3 or so car failures Max had during Qually compared. Points wise Max was on a different planet, although yes we do have to remember Sainz got a bit unlucky for DNFs, however Max had 2x 4th place finishes, in one Sainz finished 7th a mile off and the other Sainz was running 5th yes but half a lap behind and at risk of losing 2 more spots before DNF'ing.
If you're referring to the US GP in 2015; I can't take you seriously when you claim that one driver finishing 8 seconds behind the other is "a mile off"
Two full SC periods and the second was on lap 43 so an 8 second gap opened in 13 laps is pretty substantial rolleyes

Hustle_

25,192 posts

166 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
HTP99 said:
Zetec-S said:
PRO5T said:
Saints has matured into a very, very good driver. The complete opposite of the wunderkinds who blaze a trail through the lower formula then fizzle out once they reach F1.

If he finds himself in a lucky position (as for instance Button did in '09) he will certainly win a WDC. He's never going to beat a Max or a Lewis but if for instance, he was at Mercedes and they had a title challenger on their hands next year (fantasy I know!) among Red Bull and Ferrari I think he could win it. I'd put my money on him above Russel in a mixed up year. He'd need the luck and his skillset would take care of everything else.

Red Bull should really sign him though, he's not on Max's level but by god he'd hoover up loads of points and a good few wins when Max had an off day. And if by some miracle the other teams caught up he'd be much more use than Perez at taking points off everyone else.
I'd agree with most of this. Mercedes would be mad not to sign him. At worst, even with a dog of a car I think he would be consistently scoring points and claiming a few podiums. And if (it's a big if) they get it right with the next set of regulation changes, I think he has the maturity and consistency to challenge for the WDC.
Better bet than Russell IMHO.
I really think Sainz on recent form vs. Hamilton right now would be fascinating. Hamilton vs. Leclerc will probably give us some kind of gauge on how it might've gone, but I think Leclerc could be rattled by Hamilton in a way that Sainz probably wouldn't be.

Really hoping Sainz gets the Mercedes drive if not Red Bull. I know he's hot property right now but I have honestly always rated Sainz. I would expect Sainz to beat Russell over a season, perhaps not immediately but in year two...

Kart16

385 posts

14 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
You know what, if you are Totó Wolff, you should sign Sainz for 2 years, at least, because:

1- Antonelli goes to Williams.
2- You compare Russell and Sainz for two years.
3- You then release in 2027 or 2028 the one who can the least contribute technically to Audi.


Muzzer79

10,945 posts

193 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Kart16 said:
You know what, if you are Totó Wolff, you should sign Sainz for 2 years, at least, because:

1- Antonelli goes to Williams.
2- You compare Russell and Sainz for two years.
3- You then release in 2027 or 2028 the one who can the least contribute technically to Audi.
What makes you think that Audi will wait until 2027 or 2028?

You make it sound like Mercedes are able to control Audi's driver decisions.

If Sainz isn't available, Audi will put their weight behind someone else.



thegreenhell

17,033 posts

225 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Muzzer79 said:
What makes you think that Audi will wait until 2027 or 2028?

You make it sound like Mercedes are able to control Audi's driver decisions.

If Sainz isn't available, Audi will put their weight behind someone else.
If Sainz does go to Mercedes then I can see Audi being stuck with a pairing like Bottas and Hulkenberg as their experienced drivers for at least a couple of years until the next big shakeup in the driver market.

Sandpit Steve

11,274 posts

80 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
thegreenhell said:
Muzzer79 said:
What makes you think that Audi will wait until 2027 or 2028?

You make it sound like Mercedes are able to control Audi's driver decisions.

If Sainz isn't available, Audi will put their weight behind someone else.
If Sainz does go to Mercedes then I can see Audi being stuck with a pairing like Bottas and Hulkenberg as their experienced drivers for at least a couple of years until the next big shakeup in the driver market.
Bottas to Audi for a couple of years is a good shout, a competent journeyman, but one who spent five years with a championship-winning team and knows how to stand on the top step of the podium.

I’d probably go with an eager rookie for the other seat though, someone straight from F2, or one of the many hangers-on who have a super licence and aren’t getting a drive at the moment. Also sign up someone promising from Euro or FIA F3, and whichever 14-year-old kid wins the European karting championship this year.

Edit: ha yes, of course Bottas is there already at Sauber!

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Friday 12th April 15:38

Hustle_

25,192 posts

166 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
He's already there. The team hasn't done enough to deserve the attention of better drivers who have experience.

Bo_apex

2,899 posts

224 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Kart16 said:
You know what, if you are Totó Wolff, you should sign Sainz for 2 years, at least, because:

1- Antonelli goes to Williams.
2- You compare Russell and Sainz for two years.
3- You then release in 2027 or 2028 the one who can the least contribute technically to Audi.
Toto is toast.
He should cash out while the stock is high.

Deesee

8,509 posts

89 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Bo_apex said:
Toto is toast.
He should cash out while the stock is high.
The value was Hamilton, and he’s gone..

Hustle_

25,192 posts

166 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Deesee said:
The value was Hamilton, and he’s gone..
Not the 1,000-strong team of people who have actually designed and built the cars and power units for the past decade then? (mostly championship dominating cars, I might add)

skwdenyer

17,931 posts

246 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Hustle_ said:
Deesee said:
The value was Hamilton, and he’s gone..
Not the 1,000-strong team of people who have actually designed and built the cars and power units for the past decade then? (mostly championship dominating cars, I might add)
Sadly, the value is in the entry & guaranteed revenues…

Muzzer79

10,945 posts

193 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Bo_apex said:
Kart16 said:
You know what, if you are Totó Wolff, you should sign Sainz for 2 years, at least, because:

1- Antonelli goes to Williams.
2- You compare Russell and Sainz for two years.
3- You then release in 2027 or 2028 the one who can the least contribute technically to Audi.
Toto is toast.
He should cash out while the stock is high.
He owns a third of the team

How is he “toast”?

Deesee

8,509 posts

89 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Hustle_ said:
Deesee said:
The value was Hamilton, and he’s gone..
Not the 1,000-strong team of people who have actually designed and built the cars and power units for the past decade then? (mostly championship dominating cars, I might add)
Afraid not if we are taking value and sponsors.

See Williams, McLaren from days past… midfield is not great place to be, after all if Red Bull were midfield, CH would be out on his ear.

(Power units slightly different, but AC moved on).

With all due respect if I’m Hugo Boss/tommy/RL. If pay the big bucks I want LH as the photoshop model, the chaps behind Ferrari have a bargain there with him.

Crickey why do you think LS has had an interest in F1 even before his son was born..

The days of racers are sadly gone, we have marketers… (brrrr).

Hustle_

25,192 posts

166 months

Friday 12th April
quotequote all
Deesee goes brrrr